What was found in Chapel Hill's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 5900 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: CHATHAM PINES LLC · 98 people · 2019 | 13/27 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4715 µg/L — CHATHAM PINES LLC · 98 people · 2015 | 14/27 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1930.5 µg/L 149% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1300 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2515.95 µg/L — CEDAR LAKE CONDO · 40 people · 2019 | 26/27 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 157 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 668 µg/L — RIDGEWOOD MHP · 330 people · 2019 | 24/27 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 529 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: COLVARD FARMS S/D · 365 people · 2017 | 9/27 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 14.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 396.35 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 16/27 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 288.7 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 12/27 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 4.29 µg/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 269 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 12/27 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 195.8 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 11/27 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 150 µg/L — RIDGEWOOD MHP · 330 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 12.115 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 120.4 µg/L — CEDAR LAKE CONDO · 40 people · 2019 | 12/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 64.33 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 13/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 51 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 7/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.75 µg/L — THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 12/27 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 32.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 6/27 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 28 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.51 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.85 µg/L — COLVARD FARMS S/D · 365 people · 2019 | 10/27 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 18 µg/L 360% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: RILEY`S MHP · 65 people · 2019 | 4/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 14.41 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.76 pCi/L — WILDCAT CREEK S/D · 114 people · 2019 | 5/27 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 12.4 µg/L 124% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.5724 µg/L 5.2% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.20522 µg/L — SOUTH GROVE SUBDIVISION · 75 people · 2019 | 5/27 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 7.6 pCi/L 152% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2014 | 11/27 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.48 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.4 µg/L — MORRIS GROVE HEIGHTS · 33 people · 2018 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 3.95 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: FOXBORO ESTATES · 48 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.8 pCi/L 25% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: RILEY`S MHP · 65 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.17 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COLVARD FARMS S/D · 365 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.94 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: THE TRAILS S/D · 200 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.355 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTH GROVE SUBDIVISION · 75 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.6159 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VILLAGE II · 46 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.0596 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VILLAGE II · 46 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: STONERIDGE MASTER · 681 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0070 mg/L — CEDAR LAKE CONDO · 40 people · 2025 | 27/27 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Chapel Hill
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| STONERIDGE MASTER | 681 |
| BEECHWOOD COVE/POLKS LANDING | 406 |
| COLVARD FARMS S/D | 365 |
| CHATHAM S/D | 365 |
| RIDGEWOOD MHP | 330 |
| ROBIN`S WOOD | 246 |
| NORTHWOOD S/D | 208 |
| THE TRAILS S/D | 200 |
| BINGHAM WOODS MHP | 190 |
| WOODBRIDGE S/D | 143 |
| HILL TOP MHP | 139 |
| CEDAR TERRACE APARTMENTS | 123 |
| WILDCAT CREEK S/D | 114 |
| CHATHAM PINES LLC | 98 |
| EUGLENA JUNCTION | 96 |
| HEARTWOOD S/D | 94 |
| SOUTH GROVE SUBDIVISION | 75 |
| RILEY`S MHP | 65 |
| OAK GROVE MHP | 64 |
| STURBRIDGE VILLAGE | 53 |
| FOXBORO ESTATES | 48 |
| CEDAR VILLAGE II | 46 |
| POLKS TRAIL S/D | 43 |
| MANNSFIELD CONDOMINIUMS | 41 |
| CEDAR LAKE CONDO | 40 |
| MORRIS GROVE HEIGHTS | 33 |
| HOMESTEAD MHP | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Chapel Hill tap water
Is Chapel Hill tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Chapel Hill. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Chapel Hill?
27 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Chapel Hill, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Chapel Hill's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Chapel Hill include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.